Clip for supporting an i-beam

ABSTRACT

A one-piece monolithic clip for attachment to and support of an elongate rod, particularly a rod of I-shaped cross section usable for supporting drapery material for traversing therealong. The clip comprises an elongate straplike element forming intermediate the ends thereof a boxlike mounting zone perforated for reception of a fastener either vertically or horizontally therethrough for securing the clip to a supporting ceiling or wall. One end of said straplike member extends substantially horizontally from the box-shaped zone and terminates in a downwardly curved and inwardly facing hook for hooking over the top flange of the beam. The other strap end extends beneath the one end, is of reduced length and terminates in a downwardly stepped portion adapted for snugly underlying the top flange of the beam in opposition to the hook.

.United States Patent [1 1 Munnoch et al.

[ CLIP FOR SUPPORTING AN I-BEAM [75] Inventors: William C. Munnoch; James Gray,

both of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada [73] Assignee: Kirsch of Canada Limited,

Woodstock, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: May 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 253,990

[52] US. Cl 248/316 R [51] Int. Cl. F16m 13/02 [58] Field of Search... 248/300, 316 B, 316 C,

248/316 R; 16/94 D, 94 R; 52/479; 287/l89.35

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 847,661 7/1970 Canada 248/300 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard &

Flynn [451 Apr. 30, 1974 ABSIRACT A one-piecemonolithic clip for attachment to and support of an elongate rod, particularly a rod of shaped cross section usable for supporting drapery material for traversing therealong. The clip comprises an elongate straplike element forming intermediate the ends thereof a .boxlike mounting zone perforated for reception of a fastener either vertically or horizontally therethrough for securing the clip to a supporting ceiling or wall. One end of said straplike member extends substantially horizontally from the box-shaped zone and terminates in a downwardly curved and inwardly facing hook for hooking over the top flange of the beam. The other strap end extendsbeneath the one end, is of reduced length and terminates in a downwardly stepped portion adapted for snugly underlying the top flange of the beam in opposition to i the hook.

1 CLIP FORSUPPORTING AN I-BEAM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a clip for supporting a rod and more particularly that relates to a one-piece clip particularly adapted for supporting a rod of substantially I-shaped cross section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improvement on a prior clip used to support an I-section beam. The prior clip includes a top member adapted to hook over the flanged top of the beam. A separate bottom member has one end underlying the top member and the near upper flange of the Isection beam. The other end of the bottom member, remote from the beam, is bent successively upwardly, horizontally, downwardly and in a reversed horizontal direction to define a substantially box-shaped mounting portion securable to a supporting wall or ceiling.

Such prior clip has not proved entirely satisfactory. Although the aforementioned I-shaped beam, and clip are parts of a drapery support system meant to be sold at low cost, the prior clip is relatively complex, has an excessive number of parts and is relatively expensive to manufacture.

Further, the box-shaped mounting portion of the sec- 0nd member has collapsed during mounting on a ceiling or wall where the cooperating mounting screw is overtightened. As a result of such a collapse, it may be necessary to discard the clip and replace same with another since, for example, the collapsed box section may no longer adequately support the clip and beam or may impair gripping of the beam or mislocate such beam. Still further, the prior clip is relatively difficult to install because of the multitude of parts to be manipulated in order to get the beam securely fastened to the clip. Difficulty may arise from the necessity of having to manually maintain the top and bottom members aligned while tightening their grip on the beam.

Thus, the objects of this invention include provision of:

1. An improved clip particularly adapted for securement to and support of an l-cross section beam adapted for traversing drapery support, which clip is of onepiece construction.

2. A clip, as aforesaid, constructable by the bending of an elongate substantially rectangular strap of metal wherein opposed rod gripping jaws of the clip are formed by the opposite ends of said strap.

3. A clip, as aforesaid, which incorporates a box shaped portion securable as by a screw to .a supporting wall or ceiling and in which the box-shaped section is particularly resistant to collapse during installation.

4. A clip, as aforesaid, which is of simplified construction and is adapted to inexpensive manufacture in large or small quantities with either simple hand tools or automated production tooling.

5. A clip, as aforesaid, which simplifies maintenance of clip inventories and eliminates the problem of lost clip parts. r

6. A clip, as aforesaid, which provides for simplified installation even by unskilled persons and wherein the necessity of maintaining clip parts in alignment during installation of a-rod or beam with respect thereto is eliminated.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a clip embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the clip of FIG. 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a one-piece monolithic clip for attachment to and support of an elongate rod, particularly a rod of I- shaped cross section usable for supporting drapery material for traversing therealong. The clip comprises an elongate straplike element forming intermediate the ends thereof a boxlike mounting zone perforated for reception of a fastener either vertically or horizontally therethrough for securing the clip to a supporting ceiling or wall. One end of-said straplike member extends substantially horizontally from the box-shaped zone and terminates in a downwardly curved and inwardly facing hook for hooking over the top flange-of the beam. The other strap endextends beneath the one I end, is of reduced length and terminates in a downwardly stepped portion adapted for underlying and engaging the top flange of the beam in opposition to the hook.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The clip 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is constructed of a single strip of material, preferably metal. In the particular embodiment shown, steel having a thickness of 0.062 inch was utilized, though it is contemplated that the clip could be constructed of a similar metal having a thickness falling in the range of 0.030 to 0.080 inch.

I The intermediate portion 12 of the strip is bent to define a rectangular, here substantially square, mounting portion having a substantially horizontal top and bottom walls 14 and 15 integrally connected by a substantially upstanding back wall 16. Afront wall 17'integrally depends from the forward edge of the top wall 14 to a point above and closely adjacent the forward portion of thebot'tom wall 15. The walls 17, 14, 16 and 15 are thus serially connected by substantially right-angle bends, one of which is indicated at 19. Coaxial mounting openings 21 and 22 are substantially centered on the mounting portion 12 a distance preferably exceeding the width of such mounting portion and terminates at its outer (leftward) end in a downwardly and then rearwardly curved hook 31 of substantially U-shaped cross section. The end 32 of the hook 31 substantially parallels the plane of the intermediate portion of the upper support leg 29 but may be angled downwardly and rearwardly slightly therefrom, for example at an angle of approximately The bottom wall 15 of the mounting portion 12 integrally connects at 35 with a forwardly extending lower support leg 34 below the front mounting portion wall 17. In the rest condition of the clip 10 shown in FIG. 4, the lower support leg 34 is angled downwardly therefrom at an angle in the range of 10 to 30, preferably approximately The juncture of the bottom mounting portion wall 15 and lower support leg 34 lies in close spaced, or contacting, relation with the juncture 28 of the front mounting portion of the front wall 17 and upper support leg 29.

The forward end of the lower support leg 34 defines a downwardly stepped lip 37. The length of the lower support leg 34 is less than that of the upper support leg 29. The lower support leg 34 can be resiliently bent upwardly about the connection area 35, as shown in FIG. 5, until the lip 37 is coplanar with the end 32 of hook 31.

An elongate slot 41 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extends through the lower support leg 34 intermediate the ends thereof and is aligned longitudinally thereof and preferably transversely centered thereon. An opening 42, here a threaded opening, extends through thereof upper support leg 29 intermediate the ends thereo and is preferably at least transversely centered with respect to the slot 41. The threaded opening 42 is preferably shifted somewhat rearwardly (rightwardly) from longitudinally centered alignment with respect to the slot 41, but both ends of the slot 41 preferably extend at least somewhat therebeyond. The transverse width of the slot 41 preferably exceeds the diameter of the threaded opening 42. A screw 44 extends through the slot 41 into threaded reception in the threaded opening 42, whereby tightening of such screw will cause the lower support leg 34 to move upwardly, normally by unbending in the region 35, to reach its position shown in FIG.

A transverse slot 46 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) extends through the lower support leg 34 at the rightward or inner end thereof and below the rightward end of the upper support leg 29. The transverse slot 46 is transversely centered on the leg 34 and preferably extends from between 40 to 75 percent of the width thereof, here about 60 percent. The slot 46 is thus located in the region where the lower'support leg 34, when at rest, bends downwardly and forwardly away from the mounting portion bottom wall 15. The narrow cross section of the portions 47 and 48 of the lower support leg 34 bordering the slot 46 thus reduce the force required to bend the lower support leg upwardly into parallism with the upper leg 29. The material used to form the clip 10 preferably has sufficient resiliency that, when the clip is in its tightened condition of FIG. 5, release of the screw 44 will be accompanied by downward pivoting of the lower support leg 34 substantially to its position of FIG. 4.

In the preferred embodiment shown, a rearwardly (rightwardly) directed tongue 51 (FIGS. 2 and 6) is upset from the upper support leg 29 adjacent the rightward end thereof. The tongue 51 so formed is preferably substantially centered transversely of the upper support leg 29 and extends for a distance corresponding to at least a portion of the thickness thereof downwardly and rearwardly into the upper portion of the aforementioned slot 46. The rearwardly facing end 52 of the tongue is located closely adjacent to, or in contact with, the rear wall 53 of slot 46.

OPERATION Although the operation of the device described above will be understood from the foregoing description by skilled persons, a summary of such operation is now given to assure a clear understanding of the invention.

Although other uses are contemplated, the clip 10 is particularly intended for use in supporting an I-cross section rod, such as that shown at 56 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The rod 56, at its normally upper end, has a cross head 57 having forwardly and rearwardly directed, substantially coplanar flanges surmounting an upstanding central portion 58.

Installation of the rod 56 in a fixed position suitable for supporting,'for example, traversable draperies not shown, is normally carried out in the following manner. A clip .10 (and normally a plurality thereof disposed in spaced relation along the proposed position of the beam 56) is secured to a suitable supporting surface such as ceiling, as shown in FIG. 4 at C, or a wall, as shown in FIG. 5 at W, or the like by a screw such as that indicated at S or S (FIGS. 4 or 5) of any convenient type. Thus, for the ceiling installation shown in FIG. 4, the screw S extends upwardly through the openings 26 and 25 in the bottom and top walls 15 and 14, respectively, of the clip mounting portion 12 and thence into threaded engagement with the ceiling or the like for holding the upper mounting portion wall 14 snugly thereagainst. Similarly, for a wall installation, the screw S extends through the corresponding holes 22 and 21 in the front and rear mounting portion walls 17 and 16, respectively, and into threaded engagement with the material of the wall W or the like for holding the rear mounting portion wall 16 snugly thereagainst.

Although common screws with full threaded shanks are disclosed, it is contemplated that, particularly if the resistance of the mounting portion to crushing is to be enhanced, screws having enlarged shanks in the region between the head thereof and the wall or ceiling engaging surface of the mounting portion 12 may be used the holes 22 and 26 being correspondingly enlarged.

When so installed, the clip 10 normally has the screw 44 extending through the slot 41 and partially engaging the threaded opening 42, the lower support leg 34 being in its lower position shown in FIG. 4. Thereupon, the upper portion of the beam 56 may be inserted, in a sloped manner shown in FIG. 4, upwardly and rearwardly between the hook end 32 and the lip 37 of the clip 10 shown. Thereafter, the forward flange of the cross head 57 is moved forwardly into the hollow of hook 31, essentially as indicated in FIG. 5, so that the central portion 58 of the beam 56 issubstantially upstanding. Thereafter, the screw 44 is tightened causing the lower support leg 34 to pivot upwardly by resilient bending in the region 35, so that the lip 37 moves upwardly and somewhat forwardly to sandwich the rearward flange of the cross head 57 snugly against the opposed lower face of the upper support 29, the central portion 58 of the beam 56 being snugly located between the opposed, substantially coplanar ends of the hook 31 and lip 37.

The distance by which the lip 37 is stepped downwardly from the plane of the remainder of the lower support leg 34 is preferably less than the vertical thickness of the beam cross head 57 so that a small space, generally indicated at 60, is left between the legs 29 and 34 adjacent the lip 37 when the screw 44 is tightened sufficiently to cause the lip 37 to firmly hold the cross head 57 against the upper support leg 29. Thus, firm gripping of the beam by the clip is assured upon tightening of the screw 44. Where the hook end 32 is, as above described slightly sloped, the forward flange of the cross head 57 is in effect wedged within the hook 31 when installation of the beam on the clip is completed.

When the clip is secured to an overhead structure, such as the ceiling C in FIG. 4, bearing of the lower portion of the clip at 35 against the bottom edge of the forward mounting wall 17 tends to firmly prevent collapsing of the mounting portion 12 under pressure of the tightening screw S. Similarly, the screw 44, in threaded engagement with the opening 42, is adjacent the rearward end of slot 41 and thereby tends to prevent buckling of the mounting portion 12 upon tightening of the screw S when the clip 10 is supported on suitable upright such as the wall W. This resistance to buckling may be further enhanced by provision of the flap 51 and its bearing against the rearward face 53 of the slot 46.

It will be noted that installation of the clip on a supporting surface and installation of the beam 56 on the 10 clip can both be readily accomplished by a single individual, i.e. with only two hands. To mount the clip 10, one hand holds the clip against the mounting surface and the other hand controls the screw driver or the like for securing the clip to the supporting surface. In the latter instance, one hand may be used to hold the I- beam and the other to support a'screw driver for tightening of the screw 44.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus including the rearrangement of parts lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments ofthe invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A clip for supporting a beam having flange means on the upper end thereof, comprising:

an elongate one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having an intermediate mounting portion and a pair of leg portions extending from opposite ends thereof, said intermediate mounting portion comprising opposed top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall opposed to said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom wall, said leg portions being an upper support leg and a lower support leg, said upper support leg extending forwardlyfrom said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, said lower support leg exv tending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall and underlying a portion of said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom,

said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook;

means carried by one support leg and engagable with the other support leg forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for urging said legs toward each other and for resisting deflection of an opposed pair of said walls toward each other;

whereby a beam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposed face of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.

2. A clip for supporting a beam having flange meansv on the upper end thereof, comprising:

a one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having .an intermediate mounting portion comprising spaced top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall spaced from said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom 'wall, an upper support leg extending forwardly from said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, and a lower support leg extending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall beneath said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom, said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook;

means engagable with said upperand lower support legs forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for moving said lip toward said upper support leg;

means defining a slot in said lower support leg, said slot extending longitudinally of said lower support leg and located intermediate the ends thereof, a

' threaded opening in said upper support leg above said slot, said engagable means comprising a screw insertable upwardly through said slot and into threaded engagement within said threaded opening and which, upon tightening, causes said flange means to be gripped between the upper and lower support legs of said clip;

whereby abeam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposed face of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.

3. The device of claim 2, which the rearward edges of said slot and threaded opening are substantially aligned so'that said screw bears on the rearward edge of said slot to prevent forward motion of said lower support leg with respect to said upper support leg and thereby tends to prevent collapse of said front and rear mounting portion walls toward each other.

4. A clip for supporting a beam having flange means on the upper end thereof, comprising:

a one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having an intermediate mounting portion comprising spaced top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall spaced from said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom wall, an upper support leg extending forwardly from said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, and a lower support leg extending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall beneath said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom, said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook; means engagable with said upper and lower support legs forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for moving said lip toward said upper support 8;

means defining a transverse slot in said lower support leg underlying said upper support leg at its juncture to said front mounting portion wall and wherein said lower support leg and bottom mounting portion wall connect adjacent said slot and at an angle in the relaxed state of said clip;

whereby a beam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposedface of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.

5. The device of claim 4, including a tongue upset from said upper support leg adjacent its juncture with said front mounting portion wall, said tongue extending downwardly and rearwardly into said transverse slot,

the rearward edge of said tongue lying closely adjacent and in opposed relation to the rear wall of said transverse slot whereby interference therebetween prevents forward motion of said lower support leg with respect to said upper support leg and thereby collapse of said front and rear mounting portion walls toward each other upon application of compressive forces thereto.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said front and rear mounting portion walls are provided with aligned mounting holes adapted for reception of a screw for securing said clip to an upstanding support at said rear mounting portion wall.

7. The device of claim' 1, including aligned openings in said top and bottom mounting portion walls adapted for receiving a screw therethrough for securing said clip beneath a substantially horizontal support surface and wherein the integral juncture of said bottom mounting portion wall and said lower support leg underlies and is closely adjacent the lower edge of said front mounting portion wall for preventing collapse of said top and bottom mounting portion walls toward each other upon application of compressive forces thereto.

8. The device of claim 7 including means forward of said mounting portion for preventing movement of said lower support legaway from said upper support leg, so as to further resist collapsing of said top and bottom mounting portion walls. a j 

1. A clip for supporting a beam having flange means on the upper end thereof, comprising: an elongate one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having an intermediate mounting portion and a pair of leg portions extending from opposite ends thereof, said intermediate mounting portion comprising opposed top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall opposed to said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom wall, said leg portions being an upper support leg and a lower support leg, said upper support leg extending forwardly from said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, said lower support leg extending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall and underlying a portion of said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom, said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook; means carried by one support leg and engagable with the other support leg forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for urging said legs toward each other and for resisting deflection of an opposed pair of said walls toward each other; whereby a beam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposed face of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.
 2. A clip for supporting a beam having flange means on the upper end thereof, comprising: a one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having an intermediate mounting portion comprising spaced top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall spaced from said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom wall, an upper support leg extending forwardly from said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, and a lower support leg extending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall beneath said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom, said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook; means engagable with said upper and lower support legs forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for moving said lip toward said upper support leg; means defining a slot in said lower support leg, said slot extending longitudinally of said lower support leg and located intermediate the ends thereof, a threaded opening in said upper support leg above said slot, said engagable means comprising a screw insertable upwardly through said slot and into threaded engagement within said threaded opening and which, upon tightening, causes said flange means to be gripped between the upper and lower support legs of said clip; whereby a beam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposed face of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.
 3. The device of claim 2, which the rearward edges of said slot and threaded opening are substantially aligned so that said screw bears on the rearward edge of said slot to prevent forward motion of said lower support leg with respect to said upper support leg and thereby tends to prevent collapse of said front and rear mounting portion wall toward each other.
 4. A clip for supporting a beam having flange means on the upper end thereof, comprising: a one-piece strip of substantially rigid material having an intermediate mounting portion comprising spaced top and bottom walls connected at their rear edges by a rear wall, a front wall spaced from said rear wall and extending from the front edge of said top wall into adjacency with the front edge of said bottom wall, an upper support leg extending forwardly from said front wall and terminating in a down curved, rearwardly opening hook, and a lower support leg extending forwardly from said front edge of said bottom wall beneath said upper support leg and diverging downwardly therefrom, said lower support leg terminating in a downwardly stepped lip spaced rearwardly from the end of said hook; means engagable with said upper and lower support legs forwardly of said intermediate mounting portion for moving said lip toward said upper support leg; means defining a transverse slot in said lower support leg underlying said upper support leg at its juncture to said front mounting portion wall and wherein said lower support leg and bottom mounting portion wall connect adjacent said slot and at an angle in the relaxed state of said clip; whereby a beam having a central portion disposed between said lip and hook end may have said flange means thereof inserted in the pocket of said hook and gripped between said lip and the opposed face of said upper support leg upon said movement of said lip by said engagable means.
 5. The device of claim 4, including a tongue upset from said upper support leg adjacent its juncture with said front mounting portion wall, said tongue extending downwardly and rearwardly into said transverse slot, the rearward edge of said tongue lying closely adjacent and in opposed relation to the rear wall of said transverse slot whereby interference therebetween prevents forward motion of said lower support leg with respect to said upper support leg and thereby collapse of said front and rear mounting portion walls toward each other upon application of compressive forces thereto.
 6. The device of claim 1 in which said front and rear mounting portion walls are provided with aligned mounting holes adapted for reception of a screw for securing said clip to an upstanding support at said rear mounting portion wall.
 7. The device of claim 1, including aligned openings in said top and bottom mounting portion walls adapted for receiving a screw therethrough for securing said clip beneath a substantially horizontal support surface and wherein the integral juncture of said bottom mounting portion wall and said lower support leg underlies and is closely adjacent the lower edge of said front mounting portion wall for preventing collapse of said top and bottom mounting portion walls toward each other upon application of compressive forces thereto.
 8. The device of claim 7 including means forward of said mounting portion for preventing movement of said lower support leg away from said upper support leg, so as to further resist collapsing of said top and bottom mounting portion walls. 